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House committee advances package of immigration-related bills limiting local role in enforcement and standardizing visa procedures
Summary
The House Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs Committee voted to advance a group of immigration-related measures that would bar state or county agencies from entering certain federal immigration-enforcement agreements, set statewide standards for U and T visa certifications, and require protections for ‘protected community locations.’ Supporters said the bills protect due process and public‑safety trust; some members asked for AG input before floor action.
The House Committee on Judiciary and Hawaiian Affairs on Feb. 13 advanced several bills aimed at limiting state and local participation in civil immigration enforcement and improving protections for survivors and sensitive locations.
Chair David Tarnish opened the hearing by describing House Bill 1768 as a measure "relating to immigration" that "prohibits any law enforcement agency or law enforcement official from entering into an agreement under Title 8 United States Code section 1357(g) or any other federal law that permits state or county agencies to engage in immigration enforcement." Witnesses representing the Office of the Public Defender, the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, the Legal Clinic, and the ACLU testified in strong support, arguing the bill draws necessary boundaries so local police focus on community priorities and do not conscript local resources for…
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